Collapsible guard fence



Sept. 3, 1957 Filed Feb. 10, 1956 J. C. PETTERSON COLLAPSIBLE GUARDFENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H b i:

E6; 3. 22 1a 21 J27 I1111111111111)lIlIl/l/IIIIIII n 1 l4 IIIIIIIIIIIIIILia/w C. P5775550 INVENTOR.

Sept. 3, 1957 J. c. PETTERSON COLLAPSIBLE GUARD FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 10. 1956 and/I .7

INVENTOR.

Unitd States Patent p COLLAPSIBLE GUARD FENCE I John C. Patterson,Arcadia, Calif. Application February 10, 1956, Serial No. 564,721

3 Claims. (Cl. 256 -25) The present invention relates to a fence of atype which may be elevated above the ground surface, or other surface,or lowered within the surface, as may be desired, for the purpose ofprotecting various and sundry areas, such as a swimming poll, buildingmaterials, machinery, vehicles of any character, and so on.

The present structure is adapted to be elevated above a ground surfaceto any height from a minimum to a maximum under the control of automaticmeans, which may take the form of a hydraulic lift, electrical lift and,in some instances, a manual lift, whereby an area in whole or in partmay be surrounded.

An object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible guard fenceof simple and durable construction, foolproof in operation, inexpensivein cost of manufacture and installation, which may be wholly concluded,and which is generally superior to devices now known to the inventor.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction,association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features,all as shown in one embodiment in the accompanying drawings, describedgenerally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the collapsible guard fence of theinvention shown surrounding a given plot or area which is to beprotected against ingress by outsiders, the said area representing apool,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction of Figurel, showing thecollapsible fence elevated above ground level,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged, partially sectional view of theconstruction shown in Figures 1 and 2, and taken on the line 33 ofFigure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3,and,

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, the fence beingcollapsed within a container situated beneath the surface of the ground.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings I have shown in Figurel, the invention surrounding a pool, designated generally as 1. Aspreviously stated, other objects may be guarded by the presentinvention. The outline of the pool is of little consequence, although inthe present instance, a rectangular type pool is depicted. Surroundingthe pool outwardly from the marginal side walls thereof and within theground, is a metal boxing, designated generally as 2, which may comprisea pair of side walls 3 and 4 in spaced apart, parallel relationship,interconnected by a base member 5, which is perforated, as shown at 6,the side walls being shouldered at 7 and 8 to provide a restrictedentrance opening within the boxing. The restricted entrance opening ofthe boxing is provided with a pair of facing, continuous angle members 9and 10 the purpose of which 2,805,046 Patented Sept. 3, 7

Will be described later. As shown in Figure 4, the usual cement walksurrounds the pool, as shown at 11 and 12, and engages the shoulderportions 7 and 8 to securely hold the boxing within the ground. Theconstruction is such that a slotted way in the walk circumscribes thepool and affords entrance within the boxing 2. Positioned within andextending through the base 5 of the boxing are one or more verticalcylinders 13, the heads 14 of which extend to the shouldered portions 7and 8 of the boxing and within each cylinder is a piston 15. Secured toeach piston is anelongated tubular type arm or post 16, which extendsthrough the head 14 to any determined length. Suitable piping 17 extendsfrom a compressor 18 and to by-pass pipes 19 having outlets adjacent thebottom of each cylinder 13. The tubular arms 16 .are adapted to raise orlower a collapsible fencing, designated generally as 20. This fencingmay takevarious forms, such 'as the well known submarine fencing, linkfencing, orbar fencing wherein the bars are loosely pinned together forrelative movement. A top rail 21 of T cross-section has the web 22thereof secured by means of links 23 to the upper portion of thefencing, as illustrated in Figure 3, while the lower edges of thefencing are secured by links 24 to the web 25 of a bottom rail 26 of Tcross-section. As illustrated in Figure 4, when the fence is raised orelevated to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom railengages the angle members 9 and 10 and limits upward movement of thefence. Each post or tubular arm 16 is angled to horizontal at its upperend, as shown at 27, to hold the rail 21 canted so that water will runfrom the top surface thereof.

The width of the rail is such as to bridge the cement walk slotted wayand rest upon the angle members 9 and 10 when the fencing is receivedwithin the confines of the boxing 2, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described areas follows:

Obviously, the number of hydraulic cylinders utilized in the practice ofthe present invention will depend upon the area to be surrounded and theweight of the fence to be elevated or lowered within the boxing 2. Asshown, the fence is made from a series of panels, designated generallyas 27, and each panel is secured to separate rails 21, contiguous endsof the rails being carried on the inclined upper ends of each tubulararm 16, as shown in Figure 3. I accomplish this arrangement bydiametrically slotting the upper ends of each tubular arm or post 16, asshown at 28. Preferably each slot 28 is of triangular section and has adepth less than the length of webbing 22. This causes the rail 21 towobble, and thus discourages climbing thereon. When it is desired toraise any given area of fencing, suitable valves are operated to directpressure fluid from the compressor 18 into each by-pass pipe 19 and movethe pistons 15 upwardly within their respective cylinders to move thetubular arms 16 upwardly and elevate each panel of the fence.

It is within the purview of the invention to provide contiguous pairs ofcylinders and piston arms whereby contiguous fence panels may beindividually raised or lowered. I may provide, also, articulate ends forthe top rails which may be connected to or released from the piston armsto accomplish the same object.

While the drawing shows a single piping 17 having bypass piping 19, itis evident that any number of pipes under valve control may connect withby-pass piping to selected zones, to the end that either the sidefencing or the end fencing may be elevated or lowered as desired. It isquite obvious that when pressure is relieved in the piping that theweight of the fencing and its associated members will be sufi'icien-t tolower the fencing within the boxing 2 from the position of Figure 3 tothat of Figure 4. However, it is within thepurview of my invention toprovide separate relief piping and valves, ifait is desired.

Iclaim: g I j V '1. A collapsible guard fence of the type adapted to bereceived beneath the surface of the ground or elevated therea'bove forprotecting selected areas against trespass, including an elongatedboxing normally positioned beneath the surface of the ground, therebeing an entrance way at the surface ofthe ground communicating with theinterior of the boxing, an elongate T section-ed rail at all timesconfined within the said boxing, an elongate I! sectioned top rail, apanel type collapsible fencing carried between the webs of the top andbottom T sectioned rails substantially throughout the length thereof, apair of hydraulic cylinders having pistons therein for movement,elongate arms secured to the said pistons, the upper ends of said armsfor each pair of pistons supporting the top rail, simultaneous upwardmovement of both pistons elevating the top rail and the said fencetogether with the bottom rail, and stops carried by the said casing forengagement with the bottom rail to limit upward movement of the saidfence and top rail, lowering of the said pistons simultaneously loweringthe" said panel fence within the casing, the top rail engaging the saidstops carried by the casing to close the entrance way to the interior ofsaid casing, the arrangement being such that the surface of the top railis substantially flush with the surface of the ground.

2. The guard fence as set forth in claim 1: said elongate arms beingtubular and both provided with diametric slots for receiving in part thetop rail.

3. The guard fence as set forth in claim 1: said elongate arms bothprovided at the outermost ends thereof with outwardly flaring diametricslots for receiving therein the top rail in rockable canted position.

Keenan Mar. 17, 1925 Pardee Oct. 21, 1941

